Travel guide Margaret River & South West

TakeABreak Awards 2009 Winner: Gay & Lesbian-friendly – Karrak Reach   Denmark is in the south of Western Australia and is just 50 km west of Albany, a town that lies on the edge of the Southern Ocean and has amazing views of the coastline. Karrak Reach, national winner of the Gay and Lesbian-friendly accommodation category in the 2009 Best Places to Stay Awards, is nestled into the glorious Scotsdale Valley near Denmark and is a wonderful place to stay.   This is not the place for you if you need to stay connected… mobile reception is patchy (although improving!) and the roads can be steep, but the rewards are endless for those who want to experience a region where vineyards, farms and forest combine to offer amazing scenery and wonderful experiences. &nbs... Read more

Nannup is a magical place, in the heart of the south west region of Western Australia. The name comes from the local indigenous language and means ‘stopping place’. Nannup was historically a timber town and it lies in the heart of the beautiful Blackwood Valley, around 280km south of Perth. Also known as the “Garden Village” it is famous for the beautiful flowers, thanks to its wonderful climate and there are so many glorious gardens and areas of immense natural beauty that it is easy to see how it earned the name ‘stopping place.’ When you want to stop in Nannup, look no further than the Loose Goose Chalets, an award-winning, wheelchair-friendly property that embodies the welcoming nature of the region… even pets are welcome, by prior arrangem... Read more

If you’ve ever wished you could just dump the stress for a while; put all the pressures of work and life behind you and enjoy the simple life, then consider heading to Bridgetown, Western Australia. This historic gem lying on the banks of the Blackwood River offers the perfect combination of relaxing holiday destination, with enough attractions to keep the place interesting. Whether you want to settle into a cosy cottage with a glass of wine, or take your family to a farm where the kids can frolic with friendly animals, you’ll find something for everyone. Out here, there is fresh air, rolling hills, and welcoming smiles to make everyone feel good. No pressure. No stress. No frantic racing towards tour buses and worrying about the costs of various attractions. Here, you experien... Read more

Western Australia is special and very different to the other states of Australia. It has a marvellous climate, beautiful white sand beaches washed by the amazingly clear waters of the Indian Ocean and a variety of landscapes, which offer something for everyone. The region of Margaret River is a stand out in a state full of stand out attractions and seems to have more than its fair share of bounty … world-class wines, an ever growing gourmet food industry, incredible beaches, karri forests, wildlife and Yelverton Brook. This property is really something quite special, with its eco-friendly materials, such as rubberwood and other timbers, stone and solar dried mudbricks, wool insulation and other thoughtful design features that flatter, rather than harm our environment. Escape from... Read more

Around 175km south of Perth lies a picturesque city with harbours and beaches on three sides. A paradise for anyone who loves swimming, watercraft, fishing, or scenic strolls - Bunbury has grown steadily since its discovery by French explorer Captain de Freycinet in 1803. Today, 56,000 people call Bunbury home – along with more than 100 bottlenose dolphins who jump and play in Koombana Bay. Named after Lieutenant Henry William St. Pierre Bunbury in honour of his explorations in 1836, Bunbury is predominantly a mining town, with a busy deep-water port transporting more than 12 million tonnes of cargo each year.  It is a city that manages to combine the benefits of a large cosmopolitan centre with the ambience of a small town. Shops, services, entertainment, family restaurants an... Read more

Something self-contained, child friendly and not too far to drive? Online websites today are increasingly easy to use, search and browse, so you can find just the place to book accommodation Australia-wide - at your own convenience, 24 hours a day. TakeABreak.com.au has a specific family-friendly section and promises easy browsing, advanced searching, comprehensive information and free access to a full range of accommodation including some of Australia's most popular family destinations in Queensland, NSW , Victoria and WA. If you would like to take your extended family (cats or dogs) also check out the pet-friendly listings.  TakeABreak shows images, detailed property information and an availability calendar too. They provide access to properties and accommodation types that t... Read more

© Alison Aprhys 2006 If you are looking for a romantic break, a family holiday or a cool getaw... Read more

As one of the world’s premier biodiversity regions, and with over 24,000 square kilometers of forests, farmland, vineyards and orchard the South West of Western Australia is not to be missed. You can explore the area from any one of a number of towns and villages dotted throughout the region. If you’re heading to the South West for a spot of birdwatching and are also looking for a great place to stay that offers peace, serenity, bird and animal life we have found a number of options from which to choose. Stoneridge Cottages, Balingup Balingup is a tributary of the Blackwood River Valley, an area of rolling, fertile timbered country with rich pastures and historic towns. Private, secluded and tranquil, Stoneridge is separated from the winding valley drive by 200m of timber,... Read more

If you're visiting Western Australia, then this is one place not to miss. And there really is no excuse. Just a few hours drive south of Perth the Margaret River region is magical and well worth the trip... Read more

© Alison Aprhys 2006 Images supplied courtesy Tourism Western Australia Allow plenty of time to explore the many charms that amazing Albany has to offer! Set between two mountains and on the edge of the King George Sound, Albany is a beautiful town in a breathtaking location, offering magnificent views including the immense Southern Ocean and across the harbour from just about every vantage point. As you explore the areas outside Albany, the landscape offers the diversity of some of the most incredibly rugged and awe-inspiring coastal scenery in the country as well as vineyards, sand dunes, pastured landscape, forests, rolling hills and the towering peaks of the Stirling Ranges and the Mt Barker wine region to the north.  Many visitors often comment that they didn’t real... Read more